WIREDGOV

The London Development Agency plans to invest almost £3 million improving public space in and around Rainham village. The investments will improve public access to the open spaces around the village, joining up the Ingrebourne Valley to the north with Rainham Marshes and the River Thames through the unique character of the village.

The London Development Agency and Design for London will work with the London Borough of Havering on the improvements. Footpaths and pavements in the village will be widened, new road crossings added and new street furniture such as benches installed. The improvements will create a more pleasant environment with less clutter, particularly around the listed Norman church, Rainham Hall, and war memorial. This will help to revitalise and strengthen the town centre and encourage walking and cycling.

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson said:

"When completed Rainham village will be transformed, with a revitalised town centre and numerous new access points for locals to explore the many walkways along the fantastic East London Green Grid. This is exactly the kind of transformation that we are replicating across London ahead of 2012 and beyond – improving the local environment, and bringing formerly disused or under-used spaces back to life for Londoners to enjoy."

London Development Agency deputy chief executive Peter Bishop said:

"Well-designed public spaces can define an entire area. These improvements to Rainham village will bring new life to the village and make it easy for people to complete the walk from Hornchurch to the River Thames. It will make the area a Great Space – a centre that people want to visit and enjoy."

LB Havering Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Councillor Michael Armstrong said:

"I understand how strongly residents care about the unique and special character of Rainham and this investment will complement the historic nature of the area, by opening up walkways and improving the public areas."

The investment in Rainham village is part of 'London's Great Outdoors', the Mayor's overall vision for transforming the capital's public spaces. The three-year plan sets out his commitment to champion the improvement of public spaces in London and their contribution to the quality of life in the capital. Design for London provides design and project support through the Mayor’s Great Spaces programme.

Rainham is situated on the River Ingrebourne (Rainham Creek), a strategic landscape corridor in the East London Green Grid connecting town centres with the Green Belt and the Thames. It is also an important entry into the ‘Wildspace’ London Riverside Conservation Park which includes Rainham Marshes. The London Development Agency will invest £1,025,000 in 2010-11 with the rest of the £2.95 million total due in future years.

ENDS

For further information, contact the LDA news team: Robert Beasley 020 7593 8437, out of hours media 07977 439371, public enquiries 020 7593 9000.

Notes to Editors

1 The London Development Agency will spend £2,965,000 on the Rainham Village improvements by 2011-12. Other Projects in the Rainham Village area include:

* Current works to the station square by LB Havering and the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation will create a new bus and rail interchange, funded by the CLG Community Infrastructure Fund.

* New Library and Station Square being built by the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation.

* "Wildspace Rainham to the River" to improve access to the Marshes with a new ramped bridge, and other paths and furniture, mainly funded by CLG Parklands managed by the LDA and Design for London, also including funding from European Regional Development Fund.

* Walkway between the Village and the Tesco store funded by LTGDC and LB Havering.

* The LDA is seeking approval to build the "Rainham Riverside Walkway" project, as part of the Beam Reach 8 development along the River Thames.

2 ‘London's Great Outdoors - A Manifesto for Public Space’ is supported by two practical guides, ‘Better Streets’ and ‘Better Green and Water Spaces’. Together they set out the Mayor of London’s vision for improving public spaces in London. This will ensure that our streets, squares, parks and green and water spaces are fit for a great world city, are enjoyed by everyone who visits them and most importantly, help improve the quality of life in the capital. They are accompanied by an implementation plan that will see £220 million invested in over 50 public realm improvement projects over the next three years, funding for which comes from Transport for London, the London Development Agency and London’s boroughs as well as other sources. The measures include redesigned streets and reclaimed derelict green spaces and under-used waterways. The manifesto and guides have been written and produced by the Greater London Authority, London Development Agency, Design for London and Transport for London. For further information please go to www.london.gov.uk/greatoutdoors